Figures and Toys

Overview - "The sad thing is, I like it" - Maurice Sendak "The perfect gift to give a child or grandchild for their high school or college graduation. Also Father's Day. Also, other times." - Stephen ColbertRead more...

Publishers Weekly® Reviews

Reviewed in:
Publishers Weekly,
page
.

Review Date:
2012-05-21

Reviewer:
Staff

Starring a dopily earnest, bug-eyed pole seeking a purpose in life, Colbert’s tongue-in-cheek debut picture book was born out of a segment with Maurice Sendak on the Colbert Report, in which the late author/illustrator decried the talentless individuals (particularly celebrities) creating children’s books. The result: a patriotic parody of saccharine, over-earnest picture books. Colbert’s deadpan humor traipses into the tactless as he riffs on singsong verse (“I maypoled for a month,/ Learning pagans aren’t my type.../ I didn’t cut it as a totem—/ Me no smoke-um the peace pipe”), and the digital illustrations, unskilled by design, mock amateurish art. Pole’s pursuits underscore that Colbert’s adult fans will be the book’s primary audience—like Go the F**k to Sleep, this is a not-for-children “children’s book” (Pole considers becoming a “Gallup poll” and interns as a stripper pole before becoming an American flagpole). Still, Colbert affirms his place as a master of the kind of satire that, if you aren’t paying attention, you might just miss is a joke. Agent: Dan Strone, Trident Media Group. (May)

BAM Customer Reviews

DISCUSSION

Stay in the Know

Sign up for savings, news, and updates.

Join the Millionaire's Club

Join the Millionaire's Club and receive FREE SHIPPING, plus tons of exclusive benefits and offers.